By Sabrina Schnarrenberg
The Franklin Township Historical Society would like to thank the Franklin Township Trustees and the community members for passing the Cemetery Restoration Levy. Cemetery restoration has begun on the Smyrna Cemetery just outside of Felicity. Smyrna was a community founded by the Rankin Family and the Presbyterians in 1808; the most recent stone is of an infant who passed in 1816.
At one time there was a log church which is now gone, that we hope to one day rebuild. Left behind is a cemetery with 161 graves, many of the headstones in such disrepair cemetery restoration coordinator Jim Shafer likens it to a jigsaw puzzle. He and Mike Clephane have been hard at work for since May 6th to identify graves and markers. So far eight Civil War soldiers graves have been identified, many of the headstones are still missing. Four of the identified Veteran’s graves are from the US Colored Troops.
Previous restoration attempts have caused further damage to the stones; some bases are cemented together using markers from other headstones. Many grave markers were buried under a foot of dirt, those come out in near pristine condition much to the excitement of Jim and Mike. Other grave markers were used to prop up graves or as filler for sunken graves. One such collapsed grave contained broken headstones from at least four other graves and field rock.
Some graves are so far back in the woods and brush that Jim and Mike are going to have to call in assistance. Funds from the cemetery restoration project have been used to buy gravestone restoration kits and are paying Jim and Mike for their time. Both say they are volunteering as many hours as they get paid for and they both expressed excitement at the chance to renovate the cemetery. Once they complete Smyrna Cemetery they are moving on to Felicity Cemetery which needs repairs to fencing, however most graves are in excellent condition.
Paranormalists routinely visit the Smyrna Cemetery claiming that it is haunted by the glowing grave of “Sweet Lips.” The cemetery is cited as a haunted location by Rick Crawford in his book, “Uneasy Spirits”.
The Franklin Township Historical Society would like to put together a group of volunteers to help clean up the graves and document stones. If you are interested in volunteering or would like to have more information please contact Jim at 513 673-3253.